Combined tail light and license plate



Dec. 30, 1930. T. FISHER 1,786,564

COMBINED TAIL LIGHT AND LICENSE PLATE Filed April 30, 1930 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 9 /0 I7 I1 V/AIII' I 1 Inventor A ilomey Dec. 30, 1930. T. FISHER 1,786,564

COMBINED TAIL LIGHT AND LICENSE PLATE Filed April 30, 1930 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Inventor 7710mm; 773/2 er A llomey Patented Dec. 3%, 1930 NT ii 'l'TES PATENT OFFICE COMBINED TAIL LIGHT AND LICENSE PLATE Application filed April 30,

This invention relates to a combination device capable of functioning as both a tail light and a license plate for automobiles and the like and the prime object of the invention resides in the provision of a perforated panel to show the usual indicia used on a license plate, using said panel in the tail light structure.

Another very important object of the inlo vention resides in the pro *ision of a combination device of this nature which is exceedingly simple in its construction, inexpersive to manufacture, thoroughly efiicient and reliable in use and otherwise well adapted to the purpose for which it is designed.

With the above and numerous other objects in view as will appear as the description proceeds, the invention resides in certain novel features of construction and in the combina- 2 tion and arrangement of parts as will be hereinafter more fully described and claimed.

In the drawing Figure 1 is a vertical section through the apparatus embodying the features of my invention,

Figure 2 is a rear elevation thereof Figure 3 is an edge elevation of the panel Figure 4 is a detail section taken substantially on the line 4 l of Figure 3, and

Figure 5 is a detail section taken substantially onthe line 55 of Figure :2.

Referring to the drawing in detail it will be seen that the numeral 5 denotes a cylindrical casing, the front end of which is closed as at 6 and the rear end of which is open. A conventional rim 7 is telescopically associated with the forward end of the cylindrical casing and held thereon by suitable conventional fastening means 8 such as a pin and bayonet slot arrangement for holding a panel 9 on the rear edge of the casing. This panel 9 is provided with a plurality of perforations arranged so as to provide on the panel the usual indicia which is found on a license plate such as the license number, the year and the state. The edge of this panel is split as is indicated at 11 so that the portions are normally slightly spread apart as is indicated in Figure 4 so that when the panel is put in place these edge portions are 1930. Serial No. 448,571.

squeezed together by the rim 7 so as to preven the panel from rattling thereby eliminating the use of gaskets and the like.

With this invention it will be seen that in the night time when the bulb 12 in the cylindrical casing is illustrated the indicia formed by the perforation 10 in the panel 9 may be read at a distance with considerable case.

It is thought that the construction, utility and advantages of this invention will now be quite apparent to those skilled in this art without a more detailed description thereof.

The present embodiment of the invention has been described in considerable detail merely for the purposes of exemplification since in actual practice it attains the features of advantage enumerated as desirable in the statement of the invention and the above description.

It will be apparent that changes in the details of construction, and in the combination and arrangement of parts may be resorted to without departing from the spirit or scope of the invention as hereinafter claimed or sacrificing any of its advantages.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim as new is:

1. In an apparatus of the class described, a casing, a rim engageable over one edge of the casing, a panel held in place on said edge of the casing by said rim, said panel having its edge split with the parts immediately adjacent the split normally spread apart to be compressed together by the rim thereby preventing rattling of the panel.

:2. In an apparatus of the class described, a casing, a rim engageable over one edge of the casing a panel held in place on said edge of the casing by said rim, said panel having lts edge split with the parts immediately adjacent the split normally spread apart to be compressed together by the rim thereby preventing rattling of the panel, said panel being provided with a plurality of perforat1ons to form suitable indicia thereon.

In testimony whereof I affix my signature.

THOMAS FISHER. 

